The mother first became concerned about the girl’s health in May 2012 because she was walking funny, court papers said. A pediatrician discovered a rash and reported the case to state Child Protective Services workers, who in turn notified the sheriff’s office.

The girl initially was reticent about discussing what happened. Eventually, she opened up to her mother. She told her she was molested by the live-in boyfriend on more than one occasion.

She later told a child interview specialist at Dawson Place in Everett that she was scared she would get in trouble if she told someone.

She said the man “told her not to tell her mom because it would hurt her and also that he would hit her mother and sisters if she told,” according to court papers.

A detective tried to track down the defendant to get his statement but the man moved out of the apartment when the doctor began to suspect abuse. The detective went to the suspect’s employer at an auto detail shop but was told the man had quit and hadn’t been heard from since.